David Cameron blows £60,000 of taxpayers’ money on 89 minutes in Albania

David Cameron blew an estimated £60,000 hiring a luxury private jet to fly him to Albania – only to be forced to return to London after just an hour and a half so Rishi Sunak could call the election.

In what could be his final indignity as Foreign Secretary, Lord was due to visit capital Tirana, where he would be given a lavish welcome – with union flags lining the streets and a three-storey photo of himself draped on a government building.

But the jet – an Embraer Legacy 600 rented from Maltese firm Vistajet – was only on the ground for 89 minutes before he was summoned to an emergency Cabinet meeting.

Emily Thornberry, Labour ’s Shadow Attorney General said: “This sums up so much of what’s wrong with this government: the grotesque waste of taxpayers’ money spent chartering yet another luxury private jet; the incredible chaos of having to rush back to London after less than two hours in Albania; and the sheer arrogance of treating a crucial NATO ally with such disrespect.”

Taxpayers will fork out the eye-watering £8,600-an-hour cost of renting the luxury aircraft, which features plush leather seating for up to thirteen passengers – or lay-flat beds for five – on-board wifi, a blu-ray player and a fully-stocked galley with an oven, microwave and coffee-maker.

Mr Cameron was already under fire for chartering an even more luxurious jet for a five-day tour of central Asia last month.

The Embraer Lineage 1000, described as “one of the best luxury private jets money can buy”, has its own dining table where meals can be served, as well as a separate relaxation zone with extra-long sofas. It can sleep up to nine passengers.

Ms Thornberry added: “Our country deserves better than this, and on July 4th, we have a chance to vote for it.”